<p>Prince Albert's wife tried to flee home to South Africa at least thrice before her "arranged marriage" to the 53-year-old ruler of Monaco, a report said.<br /><br />The 33-year-old new Princess Charlene of Monaco made her first escape attempt when she travelled to Paris in May this year to try on her wedding dress; during the visit, she "took refuge" in her country's embassy there, French newspaper 'Le Journal du Dimanche' quoted sources as saying.<br /><br />Later in May, Charlene made a second apparent attempt to escape during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, the leading French newspaper said.<br /><br />Then, last week, royal officials are said to have confiscated her passport en route to Nice airport via chopper service that runs between the Mediterranean principality and France. She was then persuaded to go on with the marriage, the newspaper claimed.<br /><br />"Several sources have confirmed that an arrangement was reached between the future bride and groom," Britain's 'Daily Mail' quoted the French newspaper as saying.<br /><br />Sources said the Monaco palace had hoped the glitzy wedding -- attended by a host of celebrities and European royalty -- would "overshadow" new claims about secret children fathered by Albert.<br /><br />Instead, Charlene, a former South African swimmer, was in floods of tears at one point while her husband looked on impassively during their religious wedding on Saturday.<br /><br />The couple are to fly to South Africa on honeymoon this week, presenting Charlene with her best chance yet of "escaping" Monaco.</p>
<p>Prince Albert's wife tried to flee home to South Africa at least thrice before her "arranged marriage" to the 53-year-old ruler of Monaco, a report said.<br /><br />The 33-year-old new Princess Charlene of Monaco made her first escape attempt when she travelled to Paris in May this year to try on her wedding dress; during the visit, she "took refuge" in her country's embassy there, French newspaper 'Le Journal du Dimanche' quoted sources as saying.<br /><br />Later in May, Charlene made a second apparent attempt to escape during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, the leading French newspaper said.<br /><br />Then, last week, royal officials are said to have confiscated her passport en route to Nice airport via chopper service that runs between the Mediterranean principality and France. She was then persuaded to go on with the marriage, the newspaper claimed.<br /><br />"Several sources have confirmed that an arrangement was reached between the future bride and groom," Britain's 'Daily Mail' quoted the French newspaper as saying.<br /><br />Sources said the Monaco palace had hoped the glitzy wedding -- attended by a host of celebrities and European royalty -- would "overshadow" new claims about secret children fathered by Albert.<br /><br />Instead, Charlene, a former South African swimmer, was in floods of tears at one point while her husband looked on impassively during their religious wedding on Saturday.<br /><br />The couple are to fly to South Africa on honeymoon this week, presenting Charlene with her best chance yet of "escaping" Monaco.</p>
